Fibre for your Health
Eating fibre is good for your health. In fact, fibre has a reputation for being the number one source of nutrition for your colon. There are two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble. Soluble Fibre traps sugars, cholesterol and fat, slowing their absorption in the body while insoluble fibre helps pass food smoothly through the intestines. Fibre therefore, works well to lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels, while promoting proper digestive health. It can be used to help you maintain a healthy weight, but most importantly, helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Harvard’s Nutrition Source
A Harvard “Nutrition Source” study defines fibre as a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest because it specifically can’t be broken down into sugars. As a result, the carb passes through your body undigested. Along the way, it helps to regulate your body’s use of sugars and hunger cravings. Due to these strong attributes, fibre appears to be a good helper when preventing health conditions like: heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease, and constipation.
Fibre Study
In a multi year study having over 40,000 participants, researchers found that a diet high in fibre was linked to a 40 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease. Also, if you eat a high fibre diet you could lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Symptoms of metabolic syndrome may include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess weight or body fat, abnormal cholesterol levels and more.
Fibre and Your Health
Type 2 Diabetes
If your diet is low in fibre, you may risk sudden spikes in your blood sugar levels. Blood sugars spiking can ultimately develop into type 2 diabetes. When you consider eating a diet high in cereal fibre and low in “glycemic-index”, your chances of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes could be reduced by up to 50%.
Diverticulitis and Colon Disorders
Diverticular disease (also known as Diverticulitis) is an inflammation of the intestine. It is considered one of the most common age-related disorders of the colon. In another study, dietary insoluble fibre was associated with a 40% lower risk of diverticular disease. According to Harvard Medical, constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint in the United States. The most prescribed relief for this problem happens to be fibre. Fibre from wheat bran and/or oat bran is most beneficial, not the fibre that comes from fruits and vegetables.
Water and Fibre
You should gradually increase your water intake when you increase your fibre. Fibre will absorb water in your body therefore creating a “bulking agent” for your colon. Be careful to not over-increase your daily intake of fiber. Too much fibre could trap your vitamins and minerals. Ultimately they could pass through your body before having a chance to absorb properly.
Fibre Education Tastes Good
Unfortunately, many people begin to take interest in nutritional foods only after their health concerns become apparent. In a random survey involving some high school teenagers, it was shown that many do not consume an adequate amount of fibre. They cite misconceptions of taste, lack of health concern and nearly 60% indicated lack of knowledge on the topic. People need to learn the importance of fibre before there is a problem. The best education starts at home with the temptation of good tasting fibre rich foods. After all, not everything that is good for you, tastes bad.
Granola, a good source of fibre and a yummy snack food
